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Lorraine Gordon on taking over the Village Vanguard at age of 70

Audio Tabs

AT THE AGE OF 70, NEA JAZZ MASTER LORRAINE GORDON TOOK OVER THE FAMED VILLAGE VANGUARD IN NEW YORK CITY'S WEST VILLAGE. THE CLUB WAS OWNED BY HER HUSBAND, MAX GORDON, UNTIL HE PASSED AWAY.

GORDON: When Max died, I didn't have to take the Vanguard over, he never asked me. Never thought about it, frankly. But I did. And that's been since 1989.

RUFFIN: WHICH MAKES PERFECT SENSE. LORRAINE GORDON HAS LIVED AND BREATHED JAZZ SINCE SHE WAS A YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

GORDON: It seemed my whole life was motivated…at the end of the road was the club. All those things along the way were just along the way because the goal was there. And you finally reached it without trying to. But it was preordained, I think

"Four" up and hot

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH LORRAINE GORDON WAS PRODUCED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.

MUSIC CREDIT: Excerpt of "Four" composed by Miles Davis and performed by Sonny Rollins from A Night at the Village Vanguard, used by permission of EMI Capitol and used by permission of Concord Music Group (BMI).